Visual Stress

Arnold J. Wilkins

Abstract

This book provides the first general neurological theory of visual discomfort. The theory attributes the experience of visual discomfort to the strong physiological excitation that certain visual stimuli give rise to, and the effects of such excitation when the visual cortex of the brain is hyperexcitable. Cortical hyperexcitability is now thought to occur in migraine as well as in epilepsy and other neurological disorders in which seizures are relatively common, such as autism. The theory explains why visual discomfort is experienced from flicker and from striped patterns; why fluorescent lig ... More

This book provides the first general neurological theory of visual discomfort. The theory attributes the experience of visual discomfort to the strong physiological excitation that certain visual stimuli give rise to, and the effects of such excitation when the visual cortex of the brain is hyperexcitable. Cortical hyperexcitability is now thought to occur in migraine as well as in epilepsy and other neurological disorders in which seizures are relatively common, such as autism. The theory explains why visual discomfort is experienced from flicker and from striped patterns; why fluorescent lighting and visual display terminals cause headaches; and why reading can give you tired eyes. The theory is based on the observation that people find certain specific visual patterns uncomfortable to look at, and that these same patterns can induce seizures in patients with photosensitive epilepsy. The spatial and temporal characteristics of the unpleasant visual stimuli are described in detail. The theory is applied to the design of lighting, the design of text, and indeed to design more generally. The use of ophthalmic tints to treat visual stress is introduced, and techniques for its prevention are discussed.

End Matter

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